ENTERPRISE
Enterprise has a new fire chief - a very young one. Debra Richards, just 22, was appointed to the volunteer position at the April 7 hamlet council meeting.

Debra Richards: "I just had the most time available where I could put a lot of energy into it and make sure that everything gets done properly."

"It's an awesome opportunity, and only living in a small town like this would I be able to have something like this," she said.

Richards said she doesn't know if she is the NWT's youngest-ever fire chief.

"I hope so," she said. "I'd like to be a record."

A check with the NWT Office of the Fire Marshal found that it has no information on the ages of fire chiefs in the territory, now or in the past.

Richards will start her new duties as what's being called an executive fire chief, and take on extra responsibilities as she gets more training as a firefighter.

She has been a member of the Enterprise Fire Department since December.

Mayor John Leskiw II said, while the new fire chief is not yet a trained firefighter, the hamlet wanted her to immediately fill an executive role.

"She is on the fire department and she's getting training now, but her primary job is to get training set up for everybody and do the outstanding paperwork and reports," he said.

Leskiw noted many of the more experienced volunteers on the fire department work out of town and may not have time to devote to being fire chief.

"With her being in town, we've got the opportunity to use somebody to our best advantage and that's where we're going with it," he said.

Richards noted she was chosen as a candidate for fire chief at a meeting of fire department members, and her name then went to council for approval.

"It was just something new, and a good thing to learn and have in my background," she noted. "I just had the most time available where I could put a lot of energy into it and make sure that everything gets done properly."

In June, Richards plans to do a three-day basic training course for firefighters offered by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Plus, she is considering a 12-week firefighting course at a college in Alberta.

Richards, who grew up in Enterprise, works in nearby Hay River as a special needs assistant at Harry Camsell School.

Leskiw said Richards will gain more knowledge as a firefighter before taking over command in case of fire.

"She does have the overall say over everything," he said. "It's just that in emergencies, because she's a little undertrained and inexperienced in that area, we have someone who's got more experience to handle that immediate response situation."

The new fire chief noted there are now 12 to 14 members of the fire department and it is operational, but its equipment and training need to be updated.

"There's a lot that needs to get done that hasn't been getting done," she said. "We have a long road ahead of us, basically. It's going to be a challenge, for sure."

Enterprise, which has a population of about 110, has an agreement with Hay River - 38 km away - that the larger community's fire department will also respond to fire calls, if required.

As if being fire chief is not enough, Richards also plans to run for hamlet council.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.